REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
January 11, 2018
FROM: SCOTT MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
ANDREW BENELLI, PE, City Engineer / Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic Operations and Planning Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the City of Fresno, California and Silvercrest, Inc. for offsite improvements at 3039 N. Blackstone (Council District 7).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the City of Fresno, California and Silvercrest, Inc. for offsite improvements at 3039 N. Blackstone and authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement and any associated implementing documents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Housing Authority of the City of Fresno, California and Silvercrest, Inc. (Applicant) is proposing an affordable housing development at 3039 N. Blackstone and applying for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant funding. The application includes offsite improvements that will be completed by the City of Fresno (City) with AHSC funds, if awarded. The AHSC program guidelines require the Applicant provide an executed agreement with the City in which the City agrees to complete said approved improvements within the grant term and in accordance with AHSC guidelines. The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines the details of the improvements and the roles of the Applicant and the City for the completion of their respective components.
BACKGROUND
Applicant is applying for AHSC funds for 3039 N. Blackstone Avenue, an affordable housing project. The project will include the construction of sustainable transportation infrastructure (STI) and transit related amenities (TRA) including improved intersection, school crossing and missing sidewalks on Del Mar Street between Shields and Ashlan; curb bulb outs, crosswalk striping and pedestrian street lighting on Blackstone between Shields and Clinton; and bike lane upgrades along Maroa, Wishon, and Dakota resulting in 2.25 miles of new or improved bike lanes.
The AHSC program guidelines require that applicants demonstrate prior experience by providing evidence of at least two prior projects that are similar to the proposed AHSC project in scope and size, which have been completed by the applicant during the ten years preceding the application due date. The guidelines also state that the applicant may demonstrate the requisite experience by using the past experience of work completed of a non-applicant so long as the applicants can provide an executed agreement with that specific non-applicant for the completion of the related work in the AHSC Application for which funding is sought. The MOU meets the requisite threshold requirements by committing the City, as a non-applicant, to complete the STI and TRA improvements if the grant is awarded. In the event that the Applicant does not receive an award of the AHSC financing, the Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the MOU for the City to construct the STI and TRA improvements, if awarded.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The MOU is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline, Section 15378. Environmental assessments will be considered by the Council prior to construction of any projects being contemplated under the MOU.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable for the MOU which does not involve the purchase of goods or services.
FISCAL IMPACT
The AHSC Application will include $3,623,557 for the STI Improvements and $724,711 for TRA Improvements. The offsite improvements will be solely funded through the AHSC Grant and therefore there will be no fiscal impact to the General Fund.
Attachment:
Memorandum of Understanding